British-Cars.org

Welcome to the DMR Site for British Car Information.

Recommendations

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Electric Cooling Fan Conversion

I'm thinking of fitting an electric cooling fan to my 1098cc Sprite. Can anyone suggest a suitable donor car to get a fan from? Is there really a big advantage in having an electric fan? Any advice greatfully received thanks.
A Potter

I think you'll find opinion fairly evenly divided on this one.
I'm a fan (hah!) of electric fans and fitted a Revotec which came with a thermostatic control, from Ebay. It fitted nicely in front of the rad and is unseen once the grille is fitted. It also allows for the mechanical fan to be removed which in theory should allow for a quicker warm up, less noise and of course your engine is only cooled when it needs to be rather than at all times.
I wanted to be able to use the car as much as possible in modern traffic and it has proved its worth when I've been caught in traffic snarl ups on hot days.
The standard set up especially with your rad, is perfectly adequate and will cope with most conditions so it's a case of 'you pays your money and you takes your choice.'

Jeremy
Jeremy 3

I fitted a Kenlowe to my 1098 Sprite, followed the instructions to the letter, removed my belt driven fan, set the adjustable temp setting at a high setting as instructed, to "let the engine run at a higher and therefore more efficient temp". It did run high especially in traffic and it eventually blew the head gasket. Before it blew, I found it most disconcerting to watch the temp rise. I replaced the head gasket, re-fitted the belt driven fan, set the electric fan temp lower and have had no problems since. I think the electric fan has only cut in on a couple of occasions on very hot days in heavy traffic.

Bernie.
b higginson

I'm with Jeremy for the reasons and advantages he put

I'vea 1275 with new Revotec, thermoswitch, engine fan removed, mine is wired to run on with the ignition off

I am no where near lucky enough to be able to trust a s/h fan unit from another car (though you might mean to buy a new unit just need to know from which car)

of course having coolant that is in good condition and the rest of the car's coolant in good condition with radiator clean inside and out and the engine block and even heater matrix clean and clear inside will help no end
Nigel At

Thanks all for the feedback. Nigel, I think you're probably right about a secondhand fan especially as I've completely rebuilt the engine. I think I'll run the standard fan until the engine is run in and minimise the risk of failure Bernie was unfortunate to encounter, then think about the revotec type.
A Potter

it probably would only ever happen to me, but

- I tested the fan worked before I fitted it

but

neglected to note in which direction it worked

after fitting it (a rad and cowling out job) I discovered I'd got the wrong fan (push not pull) in the kit

I rang Revotec and was initially told they were extremely careful with packaging and it would be the correct fan, after standing on my head to read the model number they accepted it was the wrong unit and to be fair they got a replacement to me the next day

I also had an issue with ignition run on after switching the engine off, i doble earthed the unit and eventually had it wired direct from battery which I now prefer - the run on stopped, it might just have been a coincidence

I went to Speak to Revotec at their stand at the NEC classic show and spoke to a tech guy there who assured me their relay, switch and fan unit would n't have caused the ignition run on but I wasn't overconfident with the reply even if it was correct

a friend had a Kenlowe on his car for nearly 20 years before the fan unit had to be replaced
Nigel At

meant to also put -

if I was doing it again I'd probably use the Revotec (in hose) themoswitch kit with a kenlowe (bigger) fan so that the cooling is over quicker
Nigel At

This thread was discussed between 03/09/2011 and 04/09/2011

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

This thread is from the archives. Join this live forum now